As an important material in pharmaceutical and chemical industry, β-alanine was mainly produced by chemical methods. L-aspartate-α-decarboxylase could catalyze the α-decarboxylation from L-aspartate to β-alanine. Determinations for specific activities of PanDs from Escherichia coli, Corynebacterium glutamicum and Bacillus subtilis were performed in this study (0.98 U/mg, 7.52 U/mg and 8.4 U/mg respectively). The optimal temperature and pH of PanDs from C. glutamicum and B. subtilis were 65 degrees C, pH 6.5 and 60 degrees C, pH 6.5 respectively. According to our research, PanD from B. subtilis could be more appropriate for industrial application because of the higher activity and thermostability when compared to PanDs from E. coli and C. glutamicum which had been the most studied. We also analyzed and discussed the special post-translation self-cleavage phenomenon and the mechanism based inactivation.
Bacillus subtilis ; enzymology ; Bacterial Proteins ; genetics ; metabolism ; Corynebacterium glutamicum ; enzymology ; Escherichia coli ; enzymology ; Glutamate Decarboxylase ; genetics ; metabolism ; Industrial Microbiology ; Temperature ; beta-Alanine

Taking global minimum essential requirements(GMER)as standard,school of basic medical science in Wuhan University paid more attention to the cultivation of students' professional skills, innovation ability and communication ability. ‘Response to injury’integrated course was carried out. Based on the immunology,this course involves pathology and pathophysiology and explores the mecha-nism of the diseases' diagnosis and treatment. It took small classes,bilingual education,literature read-ing ,experiments and discussions in various forms . This reform aimed to improve the immunology , pathology and pathophysiology teaching and make our medical education meet the process of globalization.

AIM:To explore the regulatory effect of microRNA-3666 (miR-3666) on the expression of its tar-get gene phosphatase and tensin homologue deleted on chromosome ten (PTEN) in leukemic cells.METHODS: miR-3666 expression levels in normal peripheral blood mononuclear cells and leukemic cells were determined by quantitative real-time PCR.miR-3666 targeting PTEN 3'-untranslated region (3'UTR) was predicted by TargetScan software .3'UTR of PTEN was inserted in the dual luciferase reporter vector psiCHECK 2.The reporter activity was evaluated by the Dual-Lu-ciferase Reporter Assay System after the luciferase promoter vector and miRNA were co -transfected into HEK293T cell line. K562 cells were transfected with synthetic miR-3666 inhibitor ( anti-miR-3666) or a synthetic control miRNA ( anti-miR-C) .The expression of PTEN protein in the above transfected K 562 cells was determined by Western blotting .RESULTS:miR-3666 was up-regulated in the human leukemic cell lines and primary leukemic cells compared to normal peripheral blood mononuclear cells .The results of dual luciferase assays validated PTEN as a specific target gene of miR-3666.Inhi-bition of miR-3666 resulted in an up-regulation of PTEN protein expression in the K 562 cells.CONCLUSION:miR-3666 is over-expressed in leukemic cells .The abnormal over-expression of miR-3666 may play a key role in leukemia due to the down-regulation of PTEN .

Objective To explore the clinical effect of manipulation treatment combined with auricular point sticking on vertebral artery cervical spondylopathy. Methods 120 patients with vertebral artery cervical spondylopathy were randomly divided into 3 groups, 40 cases in each. The comprehensive group received manipulation treatment and auricular point sticking. The manipulation treatment group received manipulation treatment only and the auricular point sticking group received auricular point sticking only. The peak systolic velocity (Vp), end diastolic peak flow velocity (Vd), mean peak flow velocity (Vm) of the vertebral-basilar artery were checked before and after treatment. Results The clinical cure rates (80%) was higher in the comprehensive group than in the manipulation treatment group (52.5%) and in the auricular point sticking group (47.5%) (P<0.01). The Vp, Vd, Vm in 3 groups improved obviously after treatment (P<0.05), especially in the comprehensive group (P<0.01). Conclusion Manipulation treatment with auricular point sticking is more effective on vertebral artery cervical spondylopathy than simply manipulation treatment or auricular point sticking.

Objective: To investigate the influencing factors for mild cognitive impairment (MCI) among the elderly inpatients of the department of geriatrics, so as to provide the reference for early screening and prevention of MCI in the elderly population. Methods: Inpatients aged 60 years and older and admitted to the Department of Geriatrics at the First Affiliated Hospital of Xinjiang Medical University were selected as the study subjects. Demographic information, past medical history, activities of daily living (ADL), depressive symptoms were collected through questionnaire surveys. MCI was diagnosed with Montreal Cognitive Assessment in combination with medical history and physical examination. Factors affecting MCI were identified using a multivariable logistic regression model. Results: A total of 1 019 elderly patients were collected, including 472 males (46.32%) and 547 females (53.68%), and had a median age of 73.00 (interquartile range, 14.00) years. Among them, 746 patients had an educational level of junior high school or above, accounting for 73.21%, 446 patients had cerebrovascular disease, accounting for 43.77%, and 220 patients were diagnosed with MCI, with a detection rate of 21.59%. Multivariable logistic regression analysis showed that age (OR=1.354, 95%CI: 1.285-1.426), educational level (primary school, OR=0.345, 95%CI: 0.163-0.731; junior high school or above, OR=0.196, 95%CI: 0.096-0.402), ADL (moderate/severe dependence, OR=4.744, 95%CI: 2.044-11.012) and cerebrovascular disease (OR=2.335, 95%CI: 1.482-3.679) were the influencing factors for MCI among geriatric inpatients. Conclusions The MCI of the elderly inpatients of the department of geriatrics is related to age, educational level, ADL and cerebrovascular disease. Therefore, targeted health education and cognitive function training should be provided for elderly patients to prevent MCI.

AIM: To study a novel gene that probably related with liver regeneration, which was found by representational difference analysis(RDA). METHODS: cDNA sequence, tissue distribution and functions of the novel gene were studied by slot blot, Northern blot, RT-PCR, cDNA library screening and sequence analyzing. RESULTS: Two full-length clones were isolated from cDNA library of rat fetal livers and the sequence analysis identified that the positive cDNA encoded 76 amino acids only; Using the cDNA as a probe, the novel gene showed a specific liver distribution, a moment increasing expression in one hour after partial hepatectomy (PH) and high expression in fetal liver or liver tumor by Northern blot; EGF quickly induced its high expression in primary culture rat hepatocytes(FCS free).CONCLUSION: These results show that the novel gene is an early phase response gene that is closely related to a liver regeneration adjustment. It may encode peptide or has longer sequence at N tip.

To set up a method of amplification for the whole CagA gene of Helicobacter pylori and its fingerprinting by restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP), nested PCR was employed in combination with TD-PCR to amplify the gene and EcoRI and Hind III were used to generate the RFLP fingerprinting. Target DNA fragments from 13 of 20 samples were successfully amplified and the relevant RFLP fingerprintings were obtained. It is concluded that the method can be used to amplify the whole CagA gene and CagA gene has apparent diversity of RFLP profile.
Antigens, Bacterial/*genetics ; Bacterial Proteins/*genetics ; DNA Fingerprinting/methods ; Gene Amplification/*genetics ; Helicobacter pylori/*genetics ; Helicobacter pylori/isolation & purification ; *Polymorphism, Restriction Fragment Length

Objective: To investigate the absorption and transepithelial transport characteristics of scutellarin and scutellarein in the human colonic adenocarcinoma cell (Caco-2) monolayer model. The influence factors on these two compounds' absorption were investigated, such as buffer solution, duration of culture, and inhibitors of multidrug resistance-associated protein 2 (MRP(2)), breast cancer drug resistance protein (BCRP) and P-glycoprotein (P-gp). Methods: By using Caco-2 monolayer as an intestinal epithelial cell model, the transport process was studied from apical (AP) side to basolateral (BL) side or from BL to AP. The two compounds were determined by high-performance liquid chromatography coupled with diode-array-detector detection. Transport parameters and apparent permeability coeffients (P(app)) were calculated. Results: The P(app) values of scutellarin and scutellarein were different in two buffer solutions, respectively. In phosphate buffered saline, scutellarin had no absorption from AP to BL, while its P(app) value was 0.74×10(-6) to 1.58×10(-6) cm/s from BL to AP. The P(app) values of scutellarein were 4.33×10(-6) to 6.79×10(-6) cm/s and 1.32×10(-6) to 2.56×10(-6) cm/s from AP to BL and from BL to AP, respectively. The P(app) value gradually decreased with time. The absorption of scutellarein was better than that of scutellarin. The scutellarin absorption was improved by verapamil, MK-571 and reserpine. The scutellarein absorption was improved by verapamil whereas its excretion was improved by MK-571. Conclusion: Absorption of scutellarin is difficult in Caco-2 monolayer cells, which contributes to its low bioavailability. Scutellarein absorption is better than scutellarin absorption. Scutellarein transepithelial transport is passive diffusion. The inhibitor of P-gp can improve scutellarin and scutellarein transportation. The inhibitors of MRP(2) and BCRP can promote transportation of scutellarin. The inhibitor of MRP(2) can promote efflux of scutellarein. The multidrug resistance-associated protein may be the second reason for low bioavailability of scutellarin.

Tumor heterogeneity is characteristic in malignant tumors. It is a new challenge in imageology to achieve the visualization of tumor heterogeneity and precise quantification using modern imaging techniques. To solve this problem,the newly emerging radiomics is applied to analyze tumor spatial heterogeneity,with a visualization effect.Image quantification methods,including histogram analysis,texture analysis,and parametric response mapping, can accelerate the research and development of new drugs, improve the efficacy prediction,modify the treatment regimen,and promote the prognostic evaluation.

Non-image forming functions of eyes include the regulation of biological circadian rhythm and biological magnetoreception.Biological magnetoreception means that various organisms including human obtain the direction and position information through the geomagnetic field.Creatures with retina realize magnetoreception regarding retinal cryptochrome as magnetoreceptor.Hypotheses of magnetoreception contain the radical-pair theory and the biological compass theory.The two theories both reckon retinal elements as possible receptor protein of magnetoreception, and eyes as receptor organ.The radical-pair theory suggests that change of radical spin influences the structure of retinal cryptochrome, leading to different downstream chemical reaction products, which makes the variable magnetic field information perceivable.And the biological compass theory proposes a rod-like complex composed of polymerized cryptochromes and magnetoreceptor proteins, which can point to different directions due to light and magnetic signals.These changes in retina transmit geomagnetic field signal to the brain, and then sense of direction is formed.Researching biological magnetoreception promotes a novel perspective in the diagnosis and treatment of eye and brain diseases, and brings innovation in magnetic material field.In this article, non-image forming functions of eyes, hypotheses of magnetoreception and possible mechanism of non-image forming functions of eyes in magnetoreception were reviewed.